Interpreting genesis: A note on artistic invention and the Byzantine illuminated letter

Abstract

The article explores iconography of the illuminated initial letters in the Byzantine tenth century Homilies of John Chrysostom and other authors with special reference to Oxford, Bodl. lib., Auct. T. 3.3. It is argued that pictorial initials composed of human figures and human-animal combats function as detailed visual interpretations of the written text, displaying at the same time artistic uniqueness and imagination.

Keywords

• illuminated initial letters
• homilies
• John Chrysostom
• genesis
• artist-scribe
• Byzantine art